Glare shield for vehicles



Jan. 8, 1929.

- W. STARK GLARE SHIELD FOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 15. 1925 411 l v z I lanner proved Patented Jam 8, 1929 umraos'rA'ras 1,698,246 PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER STARK, OI AUBUSRN; CALIFORNIA.

GLADE SHIELD FOB VEHICLES.

application-filed January 15,,1025. SerialRo. am.

.- VThis invention relates to improvements in shield constructions for automotive vehicles.

The primary object of the invention is I the provision of a shield adapted foruse upon the ordinary windshield of automotive vehicles for the purpose of shielding the vision of the driverof the vehicle from the glare of'lights of approaching traific, meluding novel" means or quickly and conveniently operating the same.

A further object of this invention is the 1 provision of a novel-shield for dimming the glare of headlights ,of approaching .trafiic,

preferably of the curtain t pe, and including a semirtransparent or iaphanous fabr c screen.

A further object of..the invention is the provision of improved means for operating a screen of the above mentioned character,

and adaptable for various types of vehicles;

Other objects and advantagesof this 111- vention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

M In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specificatiomjand wherein similar "reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

-Fi re 1 is a perspective view of an auto- !0 'mobi e, showin the windshield thereof,'w1th the improved g are shield construction asso- .ciated therewith, and means for operating the same. I

Figure 2 is a crosssectional view taken through the improved curtain shield of this invention, showing the preferred means of attaching the same upon the conventional automotive vehicle windshield.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the 1mglare shield. g a

, Figure i is a view showing an ad ustable 0 ratin lever means for controlling action oifizhe g are shield, and

.Figures ,5 and 6 are cross sectional vlews I taken on their respective linesin Figure 4 of the drawing.

7 In the drawing, wherein for the. purpose "of illustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the invention the letter A may 4 a generally designate an automotive vehicle,

which maincludea windshield B. The

improved ight shield structure C may consist of the curtain means D, and operating means E.

as In the preferred instance the curtain .Eyroxyline and holding until the pyroxyline be rolled upon the rol or 17 beneath the easto not interfere with the vision of the driver the spring operatin type, having the conventional. spiral spring 16 therein for nor mally holding the same in one position, The roller 15 is adapted to be supported at its ends by end walls 18 of a metal supporting casing 19,- which provides the conca'vo-convex body 20, segmental in cross section and extending preferably for greater than 180 of a circumference, to receivethe roller 15 in the compartment 21 thereof and beneath the same. The body 20 at'the rear edge thereof is bent, as at 24, and upturned to provide the longitudinally extending jaw 25, which is U-shaped in cross section, and I adapted to be snapped over the top channel 26of. the'windshield B of the automotive vehicle, and substantially as is illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and '3 of the drawing. Of course, when the roller 15 is 'su rted at its ends in the end walls 18 of t 1e casin 19, this rolleris normally resiliently held in one position, and any tendency torotate the roller 15'from the positionfwill expand or contract the spring 16 out of its inherent position.

The roller 15 is preferably provided with a screened curtain 28, of relatively thin fabric, preferably silk or analogous diaphanous or semi-transparent material, and'the curtain is so wound on the roller 15 that the fabric 28 tangentially depends, as at 30, at the side of the roller nearest the windshield B. In the preferred construction of the curtain, a yroxyline or celluloid screen 33 is referab y attached at the free end of the fa ric screen 28, in any approved manner, such as by fusing :the pyroxyline into the weave of the fabric. This ma readily be accom lished by applying a su cientquantity o acetone to the joint of celluloid and cloth or fabric and then pressing the cloth. into thesoftened surface of the celluloid or ardens with the fabric embedded therein. It is preferred that the. yroxyline screen 33 be of suflicient lengtht at the same may be usedasa shield, and the same is'flexible sothat in case of r uirement it may also ing 19. In the preferred instance, however, the yroxyline screen portion 33 will be suspen ed just in sufiiciently elevated relation of the vehicle. It" may be desired to make the entire curtain portion of the structure of pyroxyline, al though an economical and Y eflicient arrangement is that of providing the fabric ortion 28-asshown, which is flexibleand thin, requirin but a small roller to support the same, an fpriggvidingthe'pyroxyline portion 33 at the marginal the fabric, and which isof suflicient longitudinal rigidity to permit the efiicientlowering and rolling of the curtain-structure on the roller 15, v p y Y Referrin to the operating structure E, it

is preferre tomanually operate the curtain by the left foot of the driver, so that but little movement-of the foot of the driver may move the curtain for-a considerable length. To this end an o crating lever 40, pro erably of J-shaped -ormation is provided, including the relatively short arm the member 48 to the. of the lever 40, at any desired osition along,

thereto, as by bolt 49, the bolt 49 according portion 41 .and. the relatively longer lever arm 42, which are connected in acute angular to its adjustment be adapted'to clamp the length thereof. At the en of the short armgiortion 41 closest to the driver, an up stan g headed foot engaging enlargement 50 is provided, which the operator may normally engage with the sole of his foot in order to rock the lever u n the pivot axis .formedby the bolt 49. he long arm 42 extends upward, preferably at an acute angle to the vertical, and in a direction of 7 being contro the driver, and at its upper end is preferably providedv with a su stantially U-shaped sprin clamp 52,'having a pulley wheel 53 rotata ly supported therein; the clamp 52 7 ed b means of an adjusting bolt 54, so that 't e clamp 52 may be'adjusted into a fixed relation at any point along the lever arm 42, to increase or de-. crease the effective leverage action which the lever 40-may have in connection with operation of the curtain.

As part of the operating structure E, a cable is provided,'which at one end thereof is connected, as by an eye bolt 63, to the dash or instrument board 64 of the automotive vehicle, and therefrom is trained outwardly and about the ulley wheel 53, and upwardly through a pul ey structure 65, which may be H connected to the supporting post 66 of the automotive vehicle windshield B. =From here the cable 60 extends vertically upward and is preferably connected .to the celluloid portion 33 of the curtain at each proper point.

From the foregoin descri tion it isbelieved that the operation of t e curtain will be apparent. Upon pressing upon the head crtion of lights of ap roaching ort arm 'portionl curtain supported lever adjustably '50 of the operating lever 40, the operatorby very little movement may swing the longer arm 42 of the lever 40 through a considerable distance, to effect a considerable pull downwardly upon the curtain of the curtain structure D, until the translucent or diaphanous fabricportion of the screen is of the vehicle, to dim the glaring effect of 'headlightsofapproaching traffic. O eration length, and the spring 16 of the curtain roll-' er will of course be expanded or contracted,

as the case may be, out of its normal inherent relation and upon. release of the lever 40 the roller will. .automaticallymove to its normal relation to roll the curtain thereon.

It is 'referre that the fabric and the pyroxy ine portions 28 and 33 of the'curtain be blue in color, as this has been found most placed across the line of vision of the driver effective to dim the glaring-effects of heads Various 0 anges-ln the shape, size, and

arrangement of parts maybe madeto the form of invention herein shown and de scribed, without departing from the'spirit of the same or the scope of the claims, Icla'ima Q I 1. In combination with anautoinotivevehicle including a windshield, a spring operated roller structure supported by thew1nd shield,'a curtainextensibly mounted on said spring operated roller, a pivotally mounted lever connectedto the vehicle, and means adjustably mounted on the lever 'and connected with said curtain whereb to vary the effective levera e action of t e lever for operation of sai curtain. I

2. As an article of manufacture a' lare shield consisting of a. flexible fabric s ield'.

in the mesh 0 the fabric portion.

3. In combination with an automotive vehicle including a windshield, an expansible eluding a' relativ means adjustably clam ed to the relatively by the windshield upwardly thereon, a substantially -J-shaped pivoted to the vehicle in .1151 y long lever arm, pulley long leverarm, and cab e means adapted forextension between the adjustable pulley means and the curtain whereby upon operation of the lever the curtain ma e lowered acrossthe line of vision of the river of the vehicle through said windshield.

eluding a relatively short arm and a relatively longer arm, means pivotally connecting the short arm of the lever to the floor boards of the automotive vehicle, and adjustable means for connectingthe cable at any desired point along the longer arm of hicle including a body, a floor, and awindshield, curtain means carried by the vehicle adapted for lowering across the windshield to obstruct the line of vision of the driver of the vehicle, a cable connected at one end to the curtain and at another end to the body of the vehicle, a J-shaped lever including a short arm portion and a longer arm portion connected in acute angular relation with the shorter arm portion, adjustable means for pivotally connecting the shorter arm at any point along its length to the floor boards of 2 the vehicle so that the longer arm will out stand from the fi oor boards, a clamp member including a pulley wheel adapted to be clamped at any desired point along the length of the longer arm and adapted to receive the cable over said pulley wheel intermediate the ends of the cable so that upon pivotal operation of said lever the cable may be rendered taut to lower the curtain across said windshield of the vehicle.

6. In combination with an automotive vehicle including a windshield, a glare shield curtain, a spring roller for supporting the glare shield curtain adjacent the windshield and normally tending to roll the curtain upon the same, a cable connected with the curtain, an operating lever of substantially J-shaped formation including a pair of arm portions, means connecting the cable for adjustment longitudinally to a desired position upon one of said arm portions, and

means operatively mounting the lever for pivoted movement in order that said cable may be drawn taut and moved for the purpose of extending the curtain over said wifidshield. 1

7. In combination with an automotive vehicle including a windshield, a glare shield curtain, a spring roller for supportin the glare shield curtain adjacent the winds ield" and normally tending to roll the curtain upon the same, a cable connected with the curtain, an operating. lever of substantially J-shaped formation including a pair of arm portions, means connecting the cable for adjustment longitudinally to a desired position upon one of said arm portions, and means operatively mounting the lever for pivoted movement in order that said cable may be drawn taut and moved for the pur-' pose of extending the curtain over said windshield, said last mentioned means 1n- 'cluding an adjustable clamp for attachment at any location along the other arm portion to which the cable is not adjustably connected whereby to increase or decrease the leverage action.

8. In combination with a motor vehicle including a windshield, a spring operated roller, means mountin the same upon the windshieldpa curtain-like glare shield for the spring roller and adapted to be drawn over the windshield to act as a glare shield for the driver of the motor vehicle, a lever, means connecting the lever with the curtain, and means mounted on the motor vehicle for supporting the lever and including means to vary the pivotal action of the lever with respect to the means which connects the lever with the curtain whereby to vary the effective operating action ofthe lever upon the curtain.

WALTER STARK. 

